Historic Preservation

The largest California gold rush nugget left in existence, the 100 troy ounce gold nugget discovered last year in Nevada County, Calif., sold last night for $400,000. Gold and Silver Value ChartDigital Download Available at shop.collect.com Holabird-Kagin Americana sold the nearly 7 pound nugget in Sacramento.? Nicknamed the “Washington Nugget,” because the nugget was...

Over at Martin Willis’ blog he delves into the harrowing and e-mail-fight-worthy topic of antique furniture refinishing. If ever there be a subject that draws sharp opinions it’s debating when/if/why to refinish a piece. I give him credit for generously relating (aka confessing) his past transgressions. But are there any collectors who haven’t snapped...

DENVER – Legendary outlaw Billy the Kid had his “picture made” 130 years ago in Fort Sumner, N.M., posing for what is now considered the most recognizable photo of the American West. A single, original tintype is the only authenticated photo of the Kid in existence today. Descended through one family, and never before...

WINONA, Minn. — Though members of the Watkins Collectors Club met for an expected full day of customary convention activities Aug. 21, 2010, a pall was cast over the event when it was discovered that three club members had purchased similar “faked” Watkins tooth powder bottles. The members independently purchased four bottles with two...

A 79-year-old British retired Cadbury chocolate factory worker has just learned his ‘pretty blue and white vase’ that’s sat for years in his modest home is actually a near-perfect Ming vase, which could bring more than $1 million at auction in May 2011. The owner had the vase tucked inside a cardboard box when...

The protests in Egypt are moving to us Americans for a number of reasons. This is the first such revolution brought “by the people, for the people” … six words that carry a lot of weight in our country, thanks to our own 16th president. Egypt protestors drove President Hosni Mubarak out of office...

This year will be a year of partnerships for Antique Trader. Here are just a few of the groups we’re working with to help promote collecting clubs, events and newcomers. Antique Trader partners with JustAnswer.com Starting with the Feb. 16 edition, we are launching a new feature for our subscribers. We have partnered with...

After 50 years of collecting toy trains, Jerry Greene has amassed a collection of over 40,000 pieces, worth tens of millions of dollars, and has a ticket to ride … . One look at this collection would convince anyone that there is such a thing as a collecting gene, and that Jerry Green inherited...

For the first time ever, several different glass clubs will converge this summer for one convention to focus on education, motivation and expanding memberships for clubs devoted to antique and vintage American Glass. The Mega Glass Convention, July 7-9 in Overland Park, Kan., will see see a gathering of seven large glass collecting clubs...

A fascinating interview with Harold Holzer, one of the nation’s leading scholars of Abraham Lincoln, was posted just a few days ago by host Martin Willis on his site Antique Auction Forum. The interview is enlightening, has already garnered 158 downloads and is an excellent way to launch your year-long dive into the Civil...